as stated in the ten commandments?
2007-01-18 09:43:29 · 16 answers · asked by Christine5 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This would be any likeness of what a person puts first in their lives. It could be currency, a person, a "dream house"...etc.
God demands this one thing; that He be recognized as the lord and savior of all people.
Since He is our creator He has the right to make all commandments. And He has summed them up in "Love God above all things....and love your neighbor in the same way you love yourself."
2007-01-18 09:52:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christine, we can relate to the graven images spoken in the scriptures as something that one would worship as a form of a god or a saint. For example, the Catholic church (not trying to knock it) is a compositon of many different images and people can choose who to have more faith in according to how fast their prayers are answered. Yet, there is also another image that is not seen but we(humanity) create it in our hearts and replace God with it. This 'idol' could be money, materialism, sex, vanity, greed, gluttony, etc. Just b/c we don't stand in front of a graven image... doesn't mean we don't commit idolatry. Anything that would take the place of God in our lives would be considered an idol in the eyes of God. Grant it... it's difficult b/ we live in a visual world and there are billions of temptations and distractions but truth is that we've got to get back to basics.. why complicate our sin?
2007-01-18 17:51:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the graven images pertain to any false idols or images that the pagans worshipped. moses had the serpent,the ark and the temple had cherubims etc.........the bible does not denounce all graven images just those that are pagan or may lead people astray into worship something that is not god as he is the only one worthy of worship. many mistake the catholic faith relating to this issue, we do not worship any statue or saint,they are venerated and call to mind our savior and god. some sites that will give you the scriptural support,basis or that will clear up any confusion relating to graven images are
scripturecatholic.com
fisheaters.com
ewtn.com
americancatholic.com
you may not agree with all that you read but it may lay to rest some questions you have on the matter.
2007-01-18 18:06:18 · answer #3 · answered by fenian1916 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Peace!
Statues and images of Christ, Mary and the Saints are helps for authentic Christian prayer and worship of God, Christ himself, and the veneration of God's Blessed. Religious statues and images have no power in themselves, but only help us to relate to Christ, Mary and the Saints.
Fundamentalists are fond of quoting Old Testament prescriptions against "graven images," apparently forgetting that God's own Son "became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1,14). Catholic Doctrine
Why don't you let up. We have answered this question a million times in this section. What is your purpose in asking it again and again?
2007-01-18 21:31:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Protestants claim that Catholics break that commandment by having images of saints, but as you have pointed out, it says "ANY representations of ANY kind" (emphasis mine). How many Protestants refrain from having "ANY representations of ANY kind"? No pictures of ducks, sunflowers, or their grandmother. No "praying hands" statues. No little animal figurines. No box of raisins with the girl on it. Face it, Protestants DO keep plenty of representations around, the bloody hypocrites!
2007-01-18 17:58:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
A graven image would be a figure representing a god, carved out of some kind of material, granite, marble, wood, etc.
2007-01-18 17:48:28 · answer #6 · answered by Lukusmcain// 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A drawing, painting, sculpture, coin, medallion, pottery, or other artwork that purports to be the image of a god.
The Israelites weren't allowed to have these. When they invaded the Promised Land, they were not allowed to keep any of these as souvenirs, but instead had to smash them, burn them, or melt them down.
2007-01-18 18:27:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What the Bible means by that is idols. "You must not CARVE any graven image." Jehovah does not like or accept idols. He says in his word that they "have eyes, yet cannot see; ears, yet they cannot hear; lips, yet they cannot speak; those making & worshipping them will become JUST like them." It is HIM we must worship, not a cross, virgin mary, or anything else.
2007-01-18 17:49:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
An image carved out of wood, metal, etc that someone worships as if it were God. They pray to and worship the object as a god. God is jealous, don't do this.
2007-01-18 18:09:18 · answer #9 · answered by JohnC 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Idols, statues of saints that you pray to, crying madonna statues, icons, relics of the dead, anything that you worship other than God.
2007-01-18 17:51:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋